Flexible rule.



A. E. HEGARDT.

FLEXIBLE RULE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.5,1914.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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. Ti l i n o l u i i lin .T 25:: m YWHR THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHoTo-L/THQ, WASHINGTON. D c

UNITED dTATES PATENT QFFI GE.

AXEL E. HEGARDT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE RULE.

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Application filed February 5, 1914;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AXEL E. HEGARDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Rules, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flexible rules, the object of the invention beend of the rule, where for a considerable ing to provide a simple inexpensive rule which may be given any desired shape or curvature, and which will remain in the shape it is bent so as to permit the use of the rule for drawing any line desired.

A further object is to provide a flexible rule which will be neat and attractive in appearance, and which will be strong and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating my improved rule in a straight line. Fig. 2 IS a similar view showing the rule curved. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a modification. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section illustrating a modification.

My improved rule comprises a strip 1 preferably of hard rubber, although it may be made of celluloid or any other material which is capable of bending without breaking. The strip 1 is beveled at opposite sides at one edge as shown at 2, and hence the strip from both sides tapers to an edge 3 which is the ruling edge, and by reason of the taper at both sides, the device may be used with equal facility from either side.

The edge 3 is strengthened by a wire l which extends longitudinally through the strip adjacent this edge as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and a. The opposite edge of the rule is provided with a series of recesses 5 located an equal distance apart and forming etween them, lugs 6.

The rule throughout its recessed edge on one surface is formed with a dove-tailed groove 7 in which a wire 8 preferably of lead is located. By dove-tailing the strip Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Serial No. 816,736.

, throughout its recessed edge, each lug 6 has i its clove-tailed groove, and the lead wire 8 operates to frictionally connect all of the lugs, yet allow the rule to be bent to any osition desired, and always hold the lugs in 1e angular relationship which they assume y reason of the bending of the rule.

It will be noted that I preferably terminate the series of recesses short of the ends of the rule. This is particularly true of one distance as illustrated at 9, I omit the re cesses so that an ample space is allowed in the groove 7 to accommodate the end of the lead wire, allowing the latter to move longitudinally in either direction in accordance with the bending of the rule without projecting the wire an undesirable distance from the end of the rule. The opposite end of the wire projects from the end of the rule opening 11 is in all of the lugs. This idea of the wire in openings instead of grooves is indicated in Fig. 5, and in this modification I have illustrated two wires 8 which are located in parallelism and operate together.

I would call attention to the fact that the inner ends of all of the recesses 8 are rounded, so that I dispense with sharp corners where the strip bends, and hence strengthen the device so that it is prevented from breaking at these points which would be weakened by angles.

Various other slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rule comprising a flexible strip having one smooth edge, the other edge of the strip having a series of lugs terminating short of one end of the strip, and a wire frictionally engaging all of said lugs, and

also said last-mentioned 'end of the strip, substantially as described.

2. A rule comprising a flexible strip having one smooth edge, the other edge of the strip having a series of lugs, each lug having a dove-tailed recess therein, and a lead Wire locatedin said recesses a movable longitudinally relative to the rule and adapted to hold the rule at any position, substantially as described 3. A rule comprising a flexible strip having one smooth edge, the other edge of said strip consisting of a longitudinal series of grooved lugs terminating short of one end end movable in the groove in the last-mentioned end of the strip, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

AXEL E. HEGARDT. Witnesses E. Drr-"rns, CHAS. E. Poms.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, 1).0." 

